Allow as How

In Southern and Appalachian English, "allow as how" means to say, think, or suppose something - a fuller, older form of "allow" used for conjecture or speculation.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #OldTimers #Southern

synonyms: reckon, figure, suppose, said, opined

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Allowed as how' is one I haven't heard in a really long time, so I'm assuming it's an old timers thing.

Pronunciation

[UH-LOW AZ HOW] /əˈlaʊ əz haʊ/

Meaning & Usage

- To suppose or state that something is the case (phrase)

Elmer:

He allowed as how the weather would turn before nightfall.

Estel:

Well, he might be right about that.

variations: allowed as how

★ This phrase is an even older form than "allow" alone, keeping alive a 17th-18th century English usage that survived in Appalachian and Southern speech. ★

Origin

From older English "allow" meaning "admit or suppose" combined with "as how" - a Scots-Irish influenced pattern brought to Appalachia. Widely attested in 19th-century U.S. literature and still heard in some Southern communities today.

Notes

Often appears in storytelling or reminiscing - "He allowed as how""
May also be written "allowed as how."
Less common today but still recognizable as a Southern/Appalachian dialect form.
Closely related to allow meaning "to think or suppose."

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Common Questions

Does "allow as how" mean "permit"?

No - it means "to think, suppose, or say."

Where is it used?

Throughout the South and Appalachia, especially in older or rural speech.

Is it still used today?

Mostly among older speakers or in dialect-rich communities, but it remains widely recognized as a Southernism.